Machine tool



June 19, 1951 A. BKE. rAL I 2,5 517,860 H IIACHINE TOOL A Filed Aug. 22, 1945 4 sucats-'suen 3 ATTORNEYS Patented June 19, 1951 2,557,sso Macmvn 'rooL Clifford A. Bickel, Stanley A. Brandenburg, and Theodore Foster, Sidney, Ohio, assignors to The Monarch Machine Tool Co., Sidney, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application August 22, 1945, Serial No. 611,932 8 Claims. (Cl. 82-21) This invention relates to machine tools and, particularly to machine tools having multiple unit mechanisms for turning contour shapes on a workpiece.V

The object of this invention is to provide a machine tool consisting of simple components so arranged that relatively complex workpieces may be machined.

Another object is to provide a lathe having tool reciprocating slides which are superimposed so that simple reciprocatory movement of the slides result in compound movements of the tool.

Still another object is to provide a lathe having a work holding device and multiple superimposed tool slides, the movement of which controls the actuation thereof so that complex contours can be machined.

Still another object is to provide a machine tool having a tool support consisting of superimposed slides in which each slide is an integral unit having its own source of power and driving mechanism.

Another object is to provide a machine tool according to the foregoing object in which the movements of the slides are interlocked by suitable control means operated by the movements of the slides.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Flgure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of machine tool according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the drive mechanism associated with one of the tool slides;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views showing the limit switches and actuating means therefor associated with one of the slides;

Figure 6 illustrates an electrical Operating circuit for controlling and interlocking the slides; and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the relative location of the various control limit Switches of the superimposed slides.

General arrangement According to this invention there is provided a headstock which has a rotatable element suitable for supporting and driving a workpiece. The headstock is preferably carried on a machine bed which comprises a pad for receiving the compound tool support of this invention.

The pad preferably comprises T-slots on which the tool slide assembly is mounted for initial positioning.

The tool slide itself comprises a first slide reciprocable in a first direction and a second slide mounted. thereon reciprocable in a second direction. Each slide has connected therewith by a first and a second driving means a drive motor. By means of electrically actuated magnetic clutches and brakes either the first or. the second driving means of either one or both 'of the slides may be made efiective for simple or compound reciprocation of the tool, while all of the driving means may be made ineffective for causing the tool to dwell.

By suitably arranging limit switches to be actuated by the slides during their travel and by providing an electrical circuit connected with the limit Switches, the operation of the slides may be automatically controlled through a complete cycle.

Each of the slides is a portion of an integral unit which preferably includes a swivel so that the directions of reciprocation of the slides may be varied to conform to the particular configuration which it is desired to generate on the workpiece.

Structural arrangement Referring to the drawings, lll indicates a bed which mounts a headstock |2 having a rotatable,

work supporting member such as the chuck Il which carries the workpiece IS to be turned.

The bed III also comprises a pad 8 having the T-slots 20 which adjustably secure the plate 22 having the T-slots 24. Adjustably mounted on holder 38 and tool 40 for cutting the workpiece I 6.

Each of the units 26 and 226 comprises a reversible electric motor and 250, respectively,

and a first and a second gear train interconnectng the motor with the slide. These mechanisms may be identical and the one associated with the unit 26 is illustrated in Figure 2.

Drive mechanisms for slides In Figure 2 there is a drive motor 50 which is preferably electrically reversible such as a direct anomeno current motor or a three phase alternating current motor, the latter being the one employed for the purposes of llustration. The motor 50 drives a pinion 52 which meshes with a gear 54 which has attached thereto a gear 56 and a shaft 58. The shaft 58 earries a magnetic member 60 which forms a portion of the core for the stationary coil 62. In axial'alignment with the shaft 58 spaced therefrom is a shaft 64 which has splined thereto an armature 66 which has a face adapted for frictional engagement with the face of the member 60. The arrangement is such that when the coil 62 is energized, the armature 66 is drawn rightwardly into frictional engagement with the member 60 to establish a drivilflar connection from the shaft 58 to the shaft 64.

On the opposite side of the armature 66 from the coil 62 is a coil 68 having a core '0. The coil Thus, by energizing the coil 62 while the coil 68 is de-energized, the shaft 64 is driven by the shaft 58 and, by energizing the coil 68 while the coil 62 is de-energized, the shaft 64 is locked against rotation.

The aforementioned gear 56 drives through an idler gear '2 to a gear '4 which is carried on a shaft 58a. The shaft 58a corresponds to the shaf t 58 in being the input shaft of an electrically actuated clutch-brake arrangement which is identical with the one described above and which has its various parts identiiied by similar numerals except with the addition of a subscript a.

The shaft 64 drives through a worm and wheel arrangement at '6 into a set of change gears at l8`.which, in turn, drive through a worm and Y. Wheel arrangement at 80 into a gear 82 which drives through an idler gear 84 into a gear 86. The gear 86 is carried on the housing 90 of a geared differential generally indicated at 92 which also comprises the bevel gears 96 journalled in the housing. Each of the gears 96 mesh with a bevel gear 98 on the shaft 64a and a bevel gear 00 on the output shaft 02 of the diierential.

The shaft 02 drives a gear 04 which meshes with an idler gear 08 that also meshes with a gear 08 attached to the gear 0. The gear 0 drives into a gear 2 that is connected with the screw 4 which threadedly engages a nut 6 carried by the slide 32.

When the clutch coil 62a is de-energized and the brake coil 68a is energized while the clutch coil 62 is energized and the brake coil 6841. is deenergized, the motor drive is through the shafts 58 and 64 into the housing 90 of the differential 92 while the input shaft 64a thereof is locked. Rotation of the housing 90 causes the gears 96 to roll on the now stationary gear 98 to drive the gear 00 and therethrough the screw 4 for reciprocating the nut 6 and slide 32 at a predetermined rate. By de-energizing the aforementioned energized clutch and brake coils and energizing those that were de-energized, the motor drive is through the shafts 5811 and Ela into the gear 98 of the differential while the shaft 64 and therethrough the differential housing are locked. The drive is then through the gears 96 and I 00 to the screw 4 which reciprocates the nut 6 and the slide 32 at a second predetermined rate in the same direction.

The worm and Wheel units at '6 and 80 and the change gears at 18 are so selected that when the drive to the slide 32 is therethrough its speed 4 y of traversal is substantially lower than when the drive is directly through the differential to the said slide. Thus, an initial rapid traverse and a subsequent feed of the slide may be obtained.

By de-energizing both of the clutch colls and energizing both of the brake colls the drive to the slide may be locked and hence, the slide itself locked against movement.

By reversing the motor the direction of reciprocation of the table 32 may be reversed so that a rapid retraction stroke may be had.

The table 232 is similarly reciprocated at fast traverse, feed and rapid retraction rates.

Each of the units 26 and 226 comprises a hollow portion in their intermediate beds indicated at 20 and 320'respectively. These hollow portions mount a plurality of limit Switches and actuating cams therefor as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 wherein the portion 20 of the unit 28 is iliustrated.

In Figures 3 and 4 it will beinoted that the slide. 32 has a portion 22 which carries the threaded rods 24, 26 and 28 which engage respectively the blocks 30, 32 and 34.

The block 30 comprises a cam 36 adapted for actuating a limit switch LSI when the slide is in its fully retracted position. The block 32 carries a cam 38 adapted for actuating a limit switch ISS when the slide has been fed in its full distance, and the block 34 comprises a cam 40 which actuates a switch LS2 when the slide hasV reached a predetermined point in its advancing travel.

The last mentioned cam and limit switch are idle during the return stroke of the slide.

A scale 42 may be provided for the accurate positioning of the blocks 32 and 34 if desired.

Electrical system In Figure 6 the power lines L and L2 are preferably supplied with direct current from a suitable source. Connected between the lines is a contactor coil A in series with a main switch 50. Energization of A closes the blades AI, A2,

. AS and A4 and energizes the drive motors 50 and 250 for the upper and lower slide units.

The contactor coil B is connected in series With a normaily closed blade of the limit switch 182 and a start cycle switch 52, the latter being bypassed by the normaily open blades BI. A contactor coil C is connected in series with the normaily open blades B2 and a normally closed blade of the limit switch IS-I", and the contactor coil D is connected in series with the paralleled and normaily open blades B3 and 13.

The contactor coil E is connected in series with the normaily closed limit switch LS5 and the normaily open blade of the limit switch LS2. A branch line from LI including a normaily closed iog switch 54 and the normaily open blades EI bypass the aforementioned blade of LS2. A second branch line including contacts 56 adapted for being closed by the jog switch 54 bypass both the blade LS2 and the switch LS5.

The contactar coil F is connected in series with a normally closed blade of a switch LS6, a normaily closed blade of a switch LS4 and the normaily open switch 183. The switch LS3 is LS3, LS4 and LSG.

A third branch line which includes the normally open blades H2 and the normally closed blades GI bypass 'the switches LS3 and LS6.

A contactor coll G is connected in series with the normally open blades E2 and has parallel therewith a condenser I62 and also in parallel with the coil G is a branch path including the normally closed blades E3 and an adjustable resistor I6l.

A contactor coil H is in series with a normally closed blade of the switch LS6 and a normally open blade of the switch LSl, the latter being bypassed by a line including the normally open blades HI.

The contactor coil I is connected in series with the normally closed switch LS'I and a normally open blade of the switch LS6, the latter being bypassed by a line including the normally open blades II. The normally open blades I2 are in series with a contactar coll J which, when energized, opens the blades J I and Jl and closes the blades J2 and J3 for reversing the drive motor 66 of the unit 26. The normally open blades Cl are connected'in series with a contactor coll K which, when energized,opens the blades KI and KI while closing the blades K2 and K3, for reversing the drive motor 250 of the unit 226.

The brake and clutch coils of the units 26 and 226 are indicated within properly identified dot-dash outlines and are connected as follows.

The feed clutch 62 of the unit 26 is in seri s with the normally open blades El while the feed brake coil 66 of the unit 26 is in series with the normally closed blades ES. The traverse clutch coll 62a of the unit 26 is in series with the normally open blades Dl while the traverse brake coil 6611 of the unit 26 is connected in series with the normally closed blades D2. The feed clutch coil 262, the feed brake coil 268, the traverse clutch coil 262a and the traverse brake coil 266a of the unit 226 are similarly serially connected respectively, with the normally open blades F2, the normally closed blades F3, the normally open blades C2 and the normally closed blades C3.

The relative locations of the limit switches LSI to LSI are better shown in Figure 7. This figure dlagrammatically illustrates the superimposed slides each carrying a cam rod which has cams fo` actuating the limit switches.

The path of the tool 46 is indicated by the line I66, of which the solid portion indicates the working part of the path and the dotted line indicates the idle part of the path. In Figure 7 the slides of the units 26 and 226 are in their fully retracted positions. To commence a work cycle, the operator closes the main switch ISO to energize coil A and to commence the rotation of both of the drive motors. Thereafter the start cycle switch 152 is closed which energizes the coils B, C, D and K and therethrough bring about in the unit 226 the energization of the traverse clutch coils 262a, the de-energization of the traverse brake coils 266a and the reversai of the drive motor 256 for the unit 226 to move its slide inwardly.

Both slides now move rapidly to approach the work. When the slide of the unit 226 has reached a position in alignment with the work it opens LSI to de-energize coil C thereby to deenergize the clutch coil 262a and to energize the brake coil 268a of the unit 226 and also to restore the motor to its original direction of rotation. -Shortly thereafter the lower slide 32 'actuates LS2 which de-energizes the coils B and D and energizes the coils E and G. This energizes the feed clutch coil 62 and the traverse brake coil 66a and de-energizes the feed brake' coil 66 and the traverse clutch coil 62a of the unit 26 and commences the slide thereof on its feeding movement.

After the lower slide 32 has advanced a predetermined amount, it actuates the limit switch LS3 which energizes the coil F. Energization of F energizes the feed clutch 262 and de-energizes the b'ake clutch 266 of the unit 226 and the slide 232 thereof moves outwardly at feeding rate, the simultaneous movement of both of the slides cooperating to cut the taper on the workpiece. When the taper is fully cut the slide 232 of the unit 226 actuates the limit switch LS6 which de-energizes coil F. This energlzes the feed brake coil 268 while de-energizing the feed clutch coil 262 of the unit 226 and thus stops the feedlng movement of its slide 232, the lower slide 32 continuing to move at feed rate. The limit switch'LSl also energizes the coil H to close the blades I-I2 thereof for a purpose to become more apparent hereinafter.

After the lower slide 32 advances a predetermined further amount, it actuates the switch LS6 to de-energize the coil E which de-energizes the feed clutch coil 62 while energizing the feed brake coil 66 of the unit 26. The movement of the slide of the unit 26 is thus halted. Deenergization of E also opens the blades E2 while closing the blades E3 and, after a predetermined time delay, the coil G becomes de-energized and permits the blades GI to close. The blades GI are in series with the blades H2 and thereby energize the coil F to again commence the outward feed of the upper slide 232. When the upper slide is fed out a predetermined amount it actuates LS6 to de-energize the coils F and H to stop the outward feed of the upper slide, and energizes the coils D and I. Energization of D places the lower slide on traverse while energization of I brings about the energization of J to reverse the lower unit drive motor 56. The lower unit is thus rapidly retracted to its starting position where it opens the limit switch LS'I to again de-energize the colls D, I and J.

A complete work cycle is thus accomplished by the control circuit of Figure 6 and the limit switches which interlock the same with the movement of the slides.

It will be understood that the workpiece illustrated is only typical of the many which it is possible to form on a machine tool according to the present invention. For example, by suitably selecting the change gears at 16, the degree of the taper may be selected over a wide range. Also by adding further similar interlocks the slides may be made to describe a configuration on a workpiece consisting of a plurality of steps and tapers. i

Either or both of the slides may be pivoted about their vertical axes so that the direction of reciprocation of each of the slides may be adjusted to further vary the congurations which it is possible to generate.

It will be observed that a machine tool constructed according to this invention comprises relatively simple units which are individually powered and which, therefore, may be combined in any desirable manne', and which are electrically interlocked so that control may be had of an entire cycle of operations.

It will be understood that various modiiicatiom; and arrangements in structure could be said units comprising a motor and selective vari- I able speed drives between said motor and Athe slide of the unit; each of said units also comprising electrical control means operable to render one or the other of said drives effective; and switch means carried by said units and actuated by the slides thereof for controlling the actuation of said electrical means and, therefore, of said slides for carrying said tool in a predetermined path.

2. In a machine tool; a bed; a first unit adjustably mounted on said bed and comprising a slide. a second unit mounted on said slide and also comprising a slide; each oi' said units including a motor and a high speed drive and a low speed drive from said motor to the slide of the unit; switch means carried by the units to be operated by the slides thereof; means controlled by said switch means and operable alternatively to render the said drives of said units effective or ineifective for carrying said second unit slide through a predctermined work path; and other switch means carried by said units operable to reverse the motor thereof for retracting said slides.

3. In a machine tool; work supporting means; tool supporting means comprising a first unit having a slide and a second unit mountedbn said slide and also comprising a slide; selective speed drives in each unit operable for rapidly advancing both of said slides toward a workpiece carried by said work supporting means; means automatically operable in response to a predetermined advancing movement of said slides for halting the slide of one unit while reducing the speed of the other slide to feed rate; means responsive to a further advancing movement of said other slide foragain initiating actuation of said one slide; means responsive to a predetermined movement of said one slide for halting the same; means responsive to a still further movement of said other slide for halting the same while again initiating actuation of said one slide; and means responsive thereafter to a predetermined movement of said one slide for returning both of said slides to their original position.

4. In a machine tool; a tool supporting and driving mechanism' comprising a first unit having a slide and a second unit mounted on said slide and also comprising a slide; each of said units comprising a reversible motor and a high and a low speed drive interconnecting said motor with the slide of the unit; each of said units also comprising switch means adapted'for actuation by the slides of the units; electrical means including clutches and brakes adapted for actuation by said switch means for rendering one or the other or both of the drive means of each of the Vunits inetfective; and other switch means carried by at least one of said units for actuation by its slide for controlling the actuation of the electrical means of the otherunit whereby said slides may be actuated individually for turning straight portions on a workpiece or may be actuated simultaneously for turning tapered portions.

5. In a machine tool supporting and driving mechanism comprising a pair of units each having a base, a bed pivotally mounted on the base and'-a slide reciprocably mounted on the bed; one of said units having its base fixedly supported and the other of said units having its base carried by the slide of said one unit; each vofv said units comprising a motor and ,,,a` flrst driving means for driving. said slide in rapid advance by said motor, and a second driving means for driving said slide at feed rate by said motor, said motor being reversible for driving said slide in retraction by one of said means; electrical means operable for rendering one or the other of said driving means ineifective or for reversing said motor; switch means carried by each unit for controlling actuation of its electrical means and operated by the slide thereof; and other switch means carried by said units and operated by their respective slides for controlling the actuation of the electrical means of the other of said slides for obtaining a' complete and automatic cycle of operations.

6. In a machine tool; work supporting means: tool supporting means comprising a plurality of superposed units each of which comprises a slide; each of said units also comprising a reversible motor and a high and a low speed drive interconnecting the motor with the slide of the unit; each of said units also comprising switch means adapted for actuation by the slide thereof for rendering one or the other or both of said drives ineffective and for reversing said motor; and other switch means carried by said units for actuation by their slides for controlling the drives and the motors of the others of said units for a complete and automatic cycle of operation.

7. In a machine tool, a bed, a first unit adjustably secured to said bed and comprising a body s and a slide thereon, a second unit mounted on said slide and also comprising a body and a slide thereon, the last mentioned slide being adapted for mounting a work tool, each of said units comprising motor means and selectiva speed drives between said motor means and the slide of the unit, each of said units also comprising electrical control means operable to render one or the other of said drives efiective, first switch means directly operated by the relative movement between the body and slide of the first unit, second switch means directly operated by the relative movement between the body and slide of the second unit, said switch means controllingethe actuation of said electrical control means and governing said drives and the slides for directing said tool in a predetermined path.

8. In a machine tool, a bed, a flrst unit adjustabiy mounted on said bed and comprising a body and a slide thereon, a second unit adjustably mounted on said slide and comprising a a body and a slide thereon, each of said units including motor means and a high speed drive and a low speed drive from said motor means to the slide of the unit, rst switch means including first and second means operated by the relative movement between' the body and slide of said first unit, second switch means including first and second means operated by the relative movement between the body and slide of said second unit, means controlled by the first means of each said switch means and operable alternatively to 2,557,seo

. 9 render the said drives of said units efiective or ineflective for carrying the slide of said second unit through a predetermined work path, means controlled by the second means of said switch- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kusold Jan. 30, 1923 Shaw May 6, 1930 Cotal Sept. 12, 1939 Hoelscher Sept. 12, 1939 Wintermute June 20, 1944 Tutiya. Oct. 17, 1945 

